Tuesday, May 19, 2020

11 items · 20 votes · 7 public comments

What happened

  • Approved abandoning unbuilt 14th Street near Pennsylvania Avenue 5-2 (Martinez, Willis dissenting).
  • Extended COVID-19 rent repayment grace period for tenants 5-2 (Bates, Butt dissenting).
  • Approved 5-year wastewater rate increases with annual hikes.
  • Heard budget discussions on revenue ideas for 2020-21 with 2 public comments.
  • Approved 11 routine items including $294,026 Veolia Water contract and electric vehicle charging stations.

Auto-generated summary from agenda items and vote records

View official: Agenda

Attendance

Ben Choi(Present)
Demnlus Johnson III(Present)
Eduardo Martinez(Present)
Jael Myrick(Present)
Melvin Willis(Absent)
Tom Butt(Present)
Nat Bates(Present)
12 substantive items · 11 consent · 1 procedural

Housing(1 item)

Extend grace period for tenants to pay back rent owed during COVID-19

4-3Rent Board & Tenants

In Plain English

The city currently gives residential and commercial tenants extra time to pay rent they couldn't afford during the pandemic. This extends that grace period longer. If approved, tenants who fell behind on rent due to COVID-19 financial hardship get more time before facing eviction for unpaid back rent.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Votes

suspend the rules and allow the city clerk to summarize the public comments received during the meeting

Moved by: Nathaniel BatesSeconded by: Demnlus Johnson III
Failed

4 to 3

Demnlus Johnson IIIAye
Jael MyrickAye
Nathaniel BatesAye
Thomas K. ButtAye
Ben ChoiNay
Eduardo MartinezNay
Melvin WillisNay

to suspend the rules and allow the city clerk to summarize the public comments received during the meeting

Moved by: Vice Mayor BatesSeconded by: Councilmember Johnson
Failed

4 to 3

Thomas K. ButtAye
Nathaniel BatesAye
Ben ChoiNay
Demnlus Johnson IIIAye
Eduardo MartinezNay
Jael MyrickAye
Melvin WillisNay

extended the meeting for thirty minutes

Moved by: Councilmember MyrickSeconded by: Councilmember Willis
Passed

7 to 0

Thomas K. ButtAye
Nathaniel BatesAye
Ben ChoiAye
Demnlus Johnson IIIAye
Eduardo MartinezAye
Jael MyrickAye
Melvin WillisAye

suspended the rules and extended the meeting to complete item K-1

Moved by: Councilmember WillisSeconded by: Councilmember Martinez
Passed

5 to 2

Thomas K. ButtNay
Nathaniel BatesNay
Ben ChoiAye
Demnlus Johnson IIIAye
Eduardo MartinezAye
Jael MyrickAye
Melvin WillisAye

adopt said resolution as written

Moved by: Jael MyrickSeconded by: Melvin Willis
Passed

4 to 2

Ben ChoiAye
Eduardo MartinezAye
Jael MyrickAye
Melvin WillisAye
Nathaniel BatesNay
Thomas K. ButtNay
Demnlus Johnson IIIAbstain

to adopt said resolution as written

Moved by: Councilmember MyrickSeconded by: Councilmember Willis
Passed

4 to 2

Thomas K. ButtNay
Nathaniel BatesNay
Ben ChoiAye
Demnlus Johnson IIIAbstain
Eduardo MartinezAye
Jael MyrickAye
Melvin WillisAye

Zoning(1 item)

Abandon 2,749 square feet of unbuilt 14th Street near Pennsylvania Avenue

5-214th Street Vacation

In Plain English

The city plans to officially abandon a small section of 14th Street that was never actually built. This 2,749 square foot area sits between Portola Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue. If approved, the land becomes available for other uses since no actual street exists there.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Votes

reach out to the neighborhood councils and review their feasibility study or needs assessments for the vacant lot before taking action on the matter

Moved by: Melvin WillisSeconded by: Eduardo Martinez
Failed

to reach out to the neighborhood councils and review their feasibility study or needs assessments for the vacant lot before taking action on the matter

Moved by: Councilmember WillisSeconded by: Councilmember Martinez
Failed

adopted Order of Vacation No. 918

Moved by: Vice Mayor BatesSeconded by: Mayor Butt
Passed

5 to 2

Thomas K. ButtAye
Nathaniel BatesAye
Ben ChoiAye
Demnlus Johnson IIIAye
Eduardo MartinezNay
Jael MyrickAye
Melvin WillisNay

Personnel(4 items)

Set salary range for new Deputy Building Official position

Deputy Building Official

In Plain English

The city is creating a new Deputy Building Official job classification. This position will earn between $8,978 and $10,890 per month. The role likely assists with reviewing building permits and ensuring construction follows safety codes.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Create new Police Records and Property Manager job, eliminate Police Records Supervisor role

Police & Community Safety

In Plain English

The police department wants to restructure how it manages evidence and records. The current Police Records Supervisor position handles too many different tasks. If approved, the city creates a new manager role focused specifically on property and records while eliminating the old supervisor job.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Create new Police Records and Property Manager position with $9,535-$11,532 monthly salary

Police & Community Safety

In Plain English

The police department needs a dedicated manager to oversee evidence storage and records management. This new position handles property from criminal cases and maintains police files. If approved, the city adds this job classification to its official pay scale at $114,000-$138,000 annually.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Create new Industrial Building Inspector job with salary range of $8,154-$9,864 per month

Industrial Building Inspector

In Plain English

The city needs a specialized inspector to review industrial buildings and construction projects. This new position focuses on factories, warehouses, and other industrial facilities rather than homes or offices. If approved, the city can hire someone at a monthly salary between $8,154 and $9,864 depending on experience.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Contracts(2 items)

Approve funding agreement for negotiating community benefits from 65-acre Bay development

Chevron & the Refinery

In Plain English

A developer wants to build mixed-use housing and commercial space on 65 acres of the former Stauffer Chemical site near Richmond Bay. The developer will pay the city's costs to negotiate a community benefits agreement that could include affordable housing, parks, or job training. If approved, the city can hire lawyers and consultants without using taxpayer money.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Confirm past extensions of exclusive negotiating rights with Winehaven Legacy

Point Molate

In Plain English

The city gave Winehaven Legacy exclusive rights to negotiate developing a property, then extended those rights twice in 2020. City councils must formally ratify such extensions after the fact. This confirms actions already taken and has no current impact on residents.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Infrastructure(1 item)

Install 575 street sweeping parking restriction signs in Richmond Annex and Panhandle neighborhoods

Richmond Annex Parking

In Plain English

The city plans to add new parking signs that show when street sweepers operate. Residents in Richmond Annex and Panhandle areas will need to move their cars during posted sweeping times. The signs help keep streets clean and prevent parking tickets during sweeping hours.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Budget(1 item)

Review budget status and discuss new revenue ideas for 2020-21

Police & Community Safety

In Plain English

City staff will present how the current budget is performing and propose ways to increase revenue or recover costs. The city faces ongoing financial pressures from reduced tax income and rising expenses. Council will give direction on which revenue enhancement ideas to pursue next.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Governance(1 item)

Set wastewater rates for next 5 years with annual increases

Police & Community Safety

In Plain English

The city considers 2 options for wastewater rate increases through 2025. Option A raises rates 7% each year for 5 years. Option B starts with 5% in 2021, then 6% and 7% increases. The city received 420 protest letters from residents opposing the increases.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Votes

approve Option A (fixed rate increase)

Moved by: Nathaniel Bates
Failed

to approve Option A (fixed rate increase)

Moved by: Vice Mayor Bates
Failed

said ordinance for Option B (gradual rate increase) received the first reading and was laid over for two weeks

Moved by: Councilmember MyrickSeconded by: Councilmember Choi
Passed

7 to 0

Thomas K. ButtAye
Nathaniel BatesAye
Ben ChoiAye
Demnlus Johnson IIIAye
Eduardo MartinezAye
Jael MyrickAye
Melvin WillisAye

Miscellaneous(1 item)

Details

In Plain English

This agenda item lacks any description or details about what the council will be discussing. Residents would need to contact the city clerk or attend the meeting to learn what specific matter is being addressed under this generic listing.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Approved as a group without individual discussion.

H-18Approved the April 21 and 28, 2020, Regular City Council meetings minutes